Graham, McCain Praise Obama’s Pick of Nuland

Her role in the Benghazi talking points controversy doesn’t seem to be causing Victoria Nuland trouble.

Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., released a statement Friday praising her nomination to serve as assistant secretary of State for European and Eurasian affairs.

Nuland, a State Department spokeswoman and a former adviser to President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney, had urged that the Benghazi talking points compiled by the CIA be changed out of concern that reports of repeated warnings would feed members of Congress looking to beat up her department.

“Ambassador Victoria Nuland has a long and distinguished record of service to our nation in both Republican and Democrat Administrations. She is knowledgeable and well-versed on the major foreign policy issues as well as respected by foreign policy experts in both parties,” the Republican senators said in a statement. “We look forward to her upcoming confirmation hearings in the United States Senate.”

McCain and Graham have led the charge in the Senate against the administration for its handling of the Benghazi, Libya, attacks. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on which both senators serve, has not yet set a date for Nuland’s confirmation hearing.

Roll Call Video Picks

About #WGDB

Niels Lesniewski has covered the Senate for CQ Roll Call since January 2010, and more recently as a staff writer and resident procedure guru for Roll Call. Niels holds degrees in both government and theater but sometimes can't tell the difference between the two. @nielslesniewski